Toilet paper container and dispenser



United States Patent C 2,991,951 TOILET PAPER CONTAINER AND DISPENSER Clifford L. Carroll, Springville, Utah Filed July 9, 1958, Ser. No. 747,537 '5 Claims. (Cl. 242-15542) The present invention relates to a holder and dispenser for a plurality of rolls of toilet paper which is expressly, but not necessarily, designed and constructed to store a full package, four rolls, of standardized brands of toilet paper or tissue and which is, therefore, a storage container as Well as a dispenser.

Although the invention was evolved and produced with the thought in mind that it serves best in public places, particularly in quarters at a motel, it is nevertheless such in construction and adaptability that it will serve with requisite nicety in private homes too. To this end a vertically elongated container is provided. The container is characterized by a back wall which is constructed to be suspended on a room wall or other stationary support surface. The container proper takes the form of a transparent suitably shaped plastic or equivalent shield, the shield being joined with the back wall or panel and having an open top normally closed by a hinge lid or cover allowing the rolls of paper to be inserted and stored for use. There is a horizontal or bottom shelf at the lower end of the back wall or panel and the portion of the shield adjacent thereto is cut away to provide a discharge opening by way of which the sheets on the roll in use may be withdrawn and torn off for use.

Spindle means is provided on the interior of the container and is joined to and rises vertically from the bottom or shelf and constitutes a satisfactory support and retainer for the rolls of paper. There is in addition a stirrup-like bail provided and this is hingedly mounted in such a way that it cooperates with the upper part of the discharge opening and constitutes a releasable suspending device for the reserve rolls of paper stored in the container and stacked in readiness for progressive use.

Briey summarized, the invention has to do with a container in which a plurality of rolls of toilet paper may be stacked and enclosed, said container having a covered opening by way of which rolls of paper may be placed and encased in the enclosing space and having an uncovered discharge opening by way of which sheets from a roll opposite said discharge opening may be withdrawn and readily torn loose for use, and a spindle axially mounted in said container and on which at least one roll of paper may be stationed, supported and freely turned.

The concept features the aforementioned applicable and releasable stirrup-like bail for holding up the reserve rolls of paper and also features two forms of spindles each of which is a dowel of suitable length. One short spindle may be used `or a longer spindle may be employed to extend from one end of the container to the other. In either instance the portion of the spindle which cooperates with the upper end of the usual cardboard core in the roll of toilet paper is reduced in cross-section in line with the upper portion of the discharge opening so that the user `may place a. nger through the opening and, on positioning it opposite the reduced portion, `may catch hold of the upper end of the cardboard core or hub and rip it loose so that it may be bodily removed to make Way for the on deck roll of paper directly above it.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

. In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

. FIG. l is a perspective view of a toilet paper container and dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale with parts appearing in elevation and section and which view is taken on the plane of the Vertical line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the horizontal line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking upwardly; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View with parts in section and elevation showing the modified spindle construction.

The aforementioned container comprises a base, more specically a sheet metal or equivalent back wall or panel 6. This is of flat form and is provided along longitudinal edges with forwardly extending flanges 8. Keyhole slots 10 are provided 4to accommodate attaching and supporting screws or the like 12 on the room wall or other supporting surface 14. The aforementioned bottom or shelf is also a dat metal plate and is denoted by the numeral 16 and has a marginal depending skirt or flange 18. The body portion or part 20 is preferably a transparent shield or shell which is of a size and shape that it cooperates with the wall or panel 6. That is to say, the marginal edge portions rest against the panel and are secured by appropriate fastening 22 to the panel flanges 8. The upper or top portion of the shell is opened and provides a suitable entrance by way of which the rolls of toilet paper are inserted one-by-one for use. A lid or cover 24 is provided and hinged in place at 26 in FIG. 2. This cover has a lip or ange 28 which fits around the edge portion of the sheath. It is also provided with la slot 29 to accommodate a slotted hasp 30 which may` serve to accommodate a shackle on a padlock (not shown). The forward half portion at the bottom of the shell is cutaway as at 32 -to provide a discharge opening. This opening is of sufficient size to expose and permit use of the roll of toilet paper 34. The reserve rolls of paper are stored in the storage chamber portion of the shield or container which is here denoted by the numeral 20. Only two rolls 36 are shown and the other one is omitted for clearness of illustration. Actually the over-al1 device is made `as before stated to store a full package (four rolls) of any standard tissue or toilet paper. The aforementioned elongated wooden or equivalent dowel 38 (FIGS. 1 to 3) extends the full length of the container. The lower end portion which provides the spindle proper as at 40 (FIG. 2) is secured by a screw or the like 42 to the center of the bottom shelf 16. The upper portion of the spindle provides stacking and retaining facilities for the reserve rolls 36. Near the level of the top of the discharge opening the spindle is reduced in cross section as for example at 44. The obvious purpose here is to permit one to insert a nger and have sulicient clearance to catch hold of the upper portion 46 of the cardboard hub or core 48 and to tear it lose and remove it from the portion 40 after the sheets on the roll 44 have been cornpletely used up.

The size and shape of the discharge opening afforded by the cut-away portion 32 is such that it completely exposes the roll of toilet paper 34 which is being used. Ihere is also sufficient clearance here to accommodate a novel suspending device which serves to hold up and out-of-the-Way the reserve rolls 36. This comprises as before mentioned a stirrup-like or U-shaped plastic or equivalent bail 50. The bight portion of the bail underlies the lowermost or on deck roll 36 suspends this roll and also the ones above it. The ones above it are of course further held in place by the portion of the spindle on which they are mounted. The laterally directed end portion 52 of the bail have turned-in terminals 54 which constitute journals and are hinged or rockably mounted in the bearing holes 56 provided on diametrical-y 1y opposite sides of the plastic shield 20. The thus con-y structed suspension device is employed in the manner 3 Y shown in full and dotted lines in FIG. 2. This showing is believed to be self-explanatory of the construction and use.

In some instances instead of using a full length dowel or spindle as seen in FIG. 2 it may be advisable to ernploy a shorter spindle as for example the modified short spindle 58 seen in FIG. 4. Here again this spindle is fastened in place at 60 on the bottom of the shelf 16 and the spindle extends up to about the plane of the bight portion of the suspension bail 50. The upper end is tapered and pointed at 62. This constitutes the reduced cross-section which is common to both types of spindles whether long or short. That is to say this upper pointed or tapered portion provides a clearance for ones finger tip and allows access to be had to the upper end Y portion of the cardboard hub in the same manner described in connection with the features 46 and 4S in FIG. 2.

It will be obvious that the container is loaded from the top by simply opening the lid or cover in the manner designated in FIG. 2 by phantom lines. The simple bail or catch 50 holds the reserve rolls 36 in stored position in the upper storage space or container portion in the manner illustrated. As a matter of fact, the type of catch used keeps the reserve rolls in place without turning. Since the invention is to be used primarily in public places the hasp 30 is provided to accommodate a padlock (not shown). Because of the novel general construction when the bottom roll 34 has been used up and the catch has been released, it is obvious that the on deck roll will drop down by gravity into a position ready-for-use.

Having operated a motel for a number of years this applicant has discovered the need for the invention herein disclosed and is convinced that it is convenient and useful in such public places but, of course, can also be used in private homes. It eliminates waste because all of one roll must be used before another can be lowered into position for use. The clear plastic or Plexiglas shield enables one to ascertain at a glance how many rolls are on hand in the container or reserve compartment space. The construction is simple and economical. Because it is constructed to accommodate commonly packaged standard brand rolls of tissue it removes the inconvenience and cost of having to purchase special sizes and types of rolls as might otherwise be the case.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modiiications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A holder and dispenser for unwrapped ready-to-use rolls of toilet paper comprising a vertically elongated container in which a plurality of cardboard core-equipped rolls of toilet paper` may be vertically stacked and stored for use, the upper portion of said container having a covered opening by way of which rolls of paper may be placed and encased in the enclosing space and having a constantly open discharge opening by Way of which selectively usable sheets from a roll in said container opposite said discharge opening may be caught hold of, withdrawn and readily torn loose for use, and an axially mounted spindle supported vertically in said container and on which the core of at least one roll of paper may be supported and freely turned, said container being provided with a bottom, said spindle being secured to and extending perpendicularly from said bottom and having a portion of reduced cross-section in a plane with the top of and which is accessible by Way ofthe dischargeopening, said reduced portion adapted to assist a user in having access tearing and removing the core of a fully used roll from the spindle, thus preparing said spindle for reception and retention of an on deck gravity lowerable roll, and manually actuatable means provided on said container and cooperable with an upper portion of said discharge opening and adapted to releasably suspend a lowermost one of reserve rolls of paper and to allow the on deck roll to be released and brought into play after the used roll below it has served its purpose and the aforementioned core has been ripped lose from said spindle, said means comprising a pivotally and swingably mounted latch-like U-shaped bail.

2. A holding, storing and dispensing device for a plurality of rolls of toilet paper comprising a horizontal shelf provided with a centrally attached upstanding spindle adapted to accommodatingly receive and rotatably support the hub portion of a roll of toilet paper positioned on said shelf, a panel attached to and rising from one marginal edge portion of said shelf and constituting container attaching means and adapted to be fastened to a room wall or other stationary support surface, a transparent shield having marginal edge portions attached to the cooperating marginal edge portions of the shelf and panel and providing an open top container, a hinged cover mounted on the upper end of said panel and serving to close the otherwise open top of said container, the lower forward portion of said shield adjacent to the shelf being cut-away to provide a discharge opening, said opening extending upwardly from said shelf to a height suicient to permit dispensing of toilet paper from the roll in alignment with said discharge opening, and a U-shaped bail hingedly mounted on said shield and having a bight portion normally bridging the upper part of the discharge opening and normally located within the confines of the container and adapted to underlie and suspend gravity lowerable reserve rolls of toilet paper in the upper portion of said container.

3. A storing and dispensing holder for a plurality of rolls of toilet paper comprising a container having a bottom providing a shelf, a back wall providing an attaching panel, a transparent shield connected marginally to the marginal portions of the shelf and panel, the lower front portion of said shield adjacent to and above said bottom being cut-away and providing a discharge opening, a spindle having a lower end secured to a central portion of said shelf, said spindle being axially positioned in the storage space of the container rising vertically from said shelf and having a tapered upper end portion terminating in a plane just above the plane of the upper edge portion of said discharge opening, and a hingedly mounted U- shaped bail having a bight portion in a plane below the plane of said upper edge portion and normally bridging the upper part of the discharge opening and located within the confines of the container and adapted to underlie and suspend a lower one of reserve rolls of toilet paper in the upper portion of said container, said spindle being of a cross-section slightly less than the inside diameter of the usual cardboard core embodied in a roll of toilet paper, and the tapered upper end of said spindle being amply reduced to provide clearance sufficient to tear the core from the spindle.

4. A holding, storing and dispensing device for a plurality of rolls of toilet paper wherein each roll embodies a customary hub-like cardboard core with toilet tissue wound thereon comprising a container providing an enclosed space for a plurality of rolls of toilet paper stacked one above the other with a lowermost roll resting atop the bottom, the bottom portion of said container being provided with a dispensing opening extending upwardly from the plane ofthe bottom to a height suicient to permit dispensing toilet paper from the roll in alignment with said opening, that portion of the container above the opening serving to enclose extra rolls of toilet paper which are adapted to gravitate into the lower portion of the oontainer when the paper on the roll therein has been used up, means carried by the container and providing a manually actuatable latch and Ibridging the upper portion of the dispensing opening and being accessible by way of said opening and actuatable to releasably suspend the stacked rolls stored in the upper part of the container in readiness for use, and a spindle substantially commensurate in length with the height of said container, said spindle having its lower end secured to a central portion of the bottom and having a lower median portion reduced in crosssection, said reduced portion providing a recess which serves to permit a user to place the tip of the inger into said recess in a manner to engage it with an edge of the cardboard core, tear the core and thus facilitate removing ythe core from that portion of the spindle 'below the reduced portion.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 and wherein said means comprises a U-shaped bail having a bight portion and upstanding arm portions, the arm portions straddling diametrically opposite sides of the container just above the top of the dispensing opening and being hingedly connected thereto and depending and normally positioning the bight portion so that it bridges that space in the container containing the lowermost roll of toilet paper, being in a plane above the top of the lowermost roll and engaging and suspending the bottom of the roll just above the lowermost roll.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,766 Wood Apr. 5, 1932 2,407,971 Black Sept. 24, 1946 2,553,389 Steiner et al.. May 15, 1951 2,616,632 Birr et al. Nov. 4, 1952 2,805,030 Wolters Sept. 3, 1957 2,871,078 Carleo Ian. 27, 1959 2,872,125 Rial et al. Feb. 3, 1959 2,872,264 Nehring Feb. 3, 1959 

